Malware warning pops up on D.C. Web sites

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- Users of some online services in Washington, D.C., got a message that use of the city's Web site could expose them to malicious software, officials confirmed.

The alert during the last week may have been triggered by someone looking to exploit weaknesses in the city government's computer system, city officials said.

Officials said someone tried to access the D.C. Community Calendar application on July 31, The Washington Times reported Wednesday.

The attack was resolved within a day and did not compromise any personal information or pose a threat to users' computers, Ayanna Smith, spokeswoman for the office of the chief technology officer, said.

But people logging onto apps.dc.gov were greeted with a message from Google, which trolls the Web for potentially dangerous sites, which warned: "The Web site you are visiting appears to contain malware."

Small businesses are more often targeted by malware attacks than larger entities, an online security expert said.

"I wouldn't say we see it extensively on government sites," said Maxim Weinstein, executive director of Stop Badware, a non-profit organization that works to eliminate malware, spam and other invasive Web applications.

It is not uncommon for warning messages to linger after an issue has been resolved, he said, calling ongoing attention to what can be an embarrassing situation.

The city's technology office is working "diligently" with Google to take down the message, Smith said.

United Press International is a leading provider of news, photos and information to millions of readers around the globe via UPI.com and its licensing services.

With a history of reliable reporting dating back to 1907, today’s UPI is a credible source for the most important stories of the day, continually updated - a one-stop site for U.S. and world news, as well as entertainment, trends, science, health and stunning photography. UPI also provides insightful reports on key topics of geopolitical importance, including energy and security.

A Spanish version of the site reaches millions of readers in Latin America and beyond.

UPI was founded in 1907 by E.W. Scripps as the United Press (UP). It became known as UPI when after a merger with the International News Service in 1958, which was founded in 1909 by William Randolph Hearst. Today, UPI is owned by News World Communications.